Women’s national team head to Italy for training camp ahead of Euro qualifiers

The Malta women’s waterpolo national team left Malta on Monday on their way to Italy where they are set for a week-long training camp in Ostia in preparation for their upcoming commitments in the European Championship qualifiers that will be held in Malta.

Coach Anthony Farrugia has selected a group of 16 players for this training camp as they step up their preparations for the qualifying round Group C matches that will be scheduled between March 4 and 6 at the National Pool in Gżira.

The women’s national team have a tough task on their hands as they will be up against Portugal, Israel, and France.

The Maltese girls will be looking to emulate the heroics of their male counterparts who last weekend booked their qualifying spot to the Euro finals for a fourth successive time when they ended runners-up in their tournament following convincing victories over Ireland and Lithuania before losing their final match against Romania.

The Malta women’s national team open their tournament commitments on March 4 when they face group favourites France before facing Portugal the following day.

Malta will end their commitments on Sunday, March 6 against Israel.

Although the odds for the Maltese girls to reach the continental finals look difficult, given the strength of the opposition, however, the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta is doing all it can to give the team its best preparation.

In Italy, the team will be able to train twice a day and are also expected to play a number of friendlies to ensure they arrive for the tournament in Malta in the best possible way.

The squad: Karla Camilleri, Francesca Paolella, Sophie Camilleri, Rhea Caruana Dingli, Denise Micallef, Abby Bonello, Alexia Amato, Stephanie Tanti Desjardins, Elaya Montfort, Louise Cachia, Lisa Fenech, Kaia Agius, Kendra Navarro, Nadia Azzopardi, Zaira Bartolo, Martha Perici Ferrante.